Best MCU Fanfiction
The must-read MCU fics on AO3, ranked and reviewed. From beloved classics to hidden gems.
Why MCU Fanfiction Is Worth Reading
The MCU fandom is a juggernaut of fanfiction, spanning hundreds of characters across interconnected storylines. With 380,000 works on AO3, Marvel fic is fueled by the franchise's endless ensemble possibilities and the emotional gaps left between blockbuster films. Writers here excel at hurt/comfort, fix-it fics that undo devastating canon deaths, and deep character studies that give screen-time-starved favorites the attention they deserve. The post-Endgame era especially produced an avalanche of transformative works.
See also: Full MCU fandom guide
Top MCU Fics, Ranked
The highest-rated MCU stories on AO3, ranked by community kudos. These are the fics that readers return to again and again.
I Am Groot
by sherlocksmyth
EXTREMELY NSFW fic told from the perspective of Groot. EDIT 04/05/2021:Wow. I just found out this is the top fic on AO3. I’m losing my mind. Thank you guys for the kudos & views! If you want you can follow me on Twitter: @grootficguy
Dark Matter
by mysterycyclone
The last thing Peter sees is Tony's horrified, heartbroken expression leaning over him. The guilt in his eyes is almost worse than the burning pain that's taking Peter apart piece by piece. The world starts to go dark.There's a flash of gold and green. For one moment, he finds himself standing among
The Third Option
by Uncertainty_Principle
Homecoming AU.Ben and May divorced before Peter’s parents died, so when Ben is murdered Peter goes into foster care. It takes just a tiny taste of superpowers for Peter to decide he doesn’t want to put up with his horrible foster father anymore—the streets are infinitely more appealing. All he wants
Fitting In (Tiny Spaces)
by aloneintherain
Peter's trapped beneath a collapsed building during a mission, hurt and unable to move. Luckily, his comm still works. Unluckily, the Avengers don’t realise how bad of a state Peter is in, and Peter isn’t inclined to tell them. “Spidey, they’ve got reinforcements. We’ve hit a bit of a snag here, and
Astronomy In Reverse
by pansley
A year after the Winter Soldier failed his mission in DC, Bucky Barnes is doing his best to stay under the radar from both Hydra and Steve Rogers. His hope for a peaceful day-to-day life in limbo goes awry, however, when he meets Queens’ newest hero; a pure-hearted kid with a death wish and a ridicu
Mistake on the Part of Nature
by idiopathicsmile
Steve takes in Bucky's betrayed look and Sam's confusion, follows Sam's gaze to the pile of mangled fruit in the trash can. Sudden comprehension fills his face."Oh," he says. "Bucky found out about bananas." In which an American icon is mourned. But probably not the one you're thinking of.
A Different Kind of Mask
by aloneintherain
“So, you remember the plan, right?” Matt whispered. The sirens in the distance picked up, the sounds of the police officers on foot growing louder.“You’re blind and I’m just a scared teenager,” Peter said back, nodding. “Got it.”
It's Above My Clearance Level
by tsk
In which Peter's class goes on a field trip to Stark Tower, and no one knows why this kid has such high clearance.
Miscommunications
by Isnt_it_pretty_to_think_so
Five times the Avengers learn about Peter Parker, and the one time the rest of the world does, too.
Bleed the Water Red
by aloneintherain
Peter and Deadpool are held captive by a super-villain that has an inclination for torture. After she boasts her untarnished record at never having hurt a child or teenager, Peter is forced to break the truth to both her and Deadpool. “Did you know I have a perfect record?” The villain collects a ru
Worst Summer Vacation
by mysterycyclone
The last thing he remembers is leaving school. It was a half day, as he’d finished his exams early, texted May about staying over at Ned’s place, sent another text to MJ and then a twitch of his spider senses--Then a pinch at his neck, like a bee sting, but deeper. Darkness. Then here.Huh. Kidnapped
The Twice-Told Tale
by arysteia
For someone he'd hero-worshipped for so long, Steve Rogers in the flesh is a pretty big disappointment. For one thing, he keeps looking at Tony as though he reminds him of someone else, and even if he never says anything, Tony's pretty sure it's his father. A lifetime of not measuring up to Howard
Slide To Answer
by relenafanel
"What do I do?” Steve appealed into the phone. “I’m freaking out.”There was silence on the other end of the line. It lasted so long that Steve pulled the receiver away from his ear and frowned at it. Pay phones were old. Maybe this one wasn’t working despite the obvious dial tone when he picked u
Death Before Inaction
by hppjmxrgosg
“Fuck off, Nicky.”~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~“Hasn’t anyone ever told you spider-napping is illegal?”~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~“You can’t hold me here, I know my spider-rights.”~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~“God, you guys are so old. What are you? Like 27?”~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~“Scale
Aliens, Hammers, and Making a Memorable First Impression
by Marvel_Fangirl
"Wow, dude, this thing is awesome. Does it generate its own electricity?" Peter flipped the hammer once in the air and caught it, watching in amazement as sparks danced over it. "Like, I know you're the god of thunder, but I didn't know your hammer had magic powers too! That is so cool. I want one.
Repeat After Me
by battybatzgirl
Tony’s face hardens as he says, “What kid.”“I don’t know, some twelve year old—”Below him, the kid coughs out, “Fifteen.”“—Fifteen year old—”Tony scrubs a hand across his face. “Don’t tell me he’s wearing a dorky shirt with a chemistry pun on it.”Rhodey frowns. That was oddly specific. Glancing down
Constant Internal [Spider] Screaming: Semi-Connected Scenes from a Graduating Senior’s Life
by isaDanCurtisproduction
When Peter's Teacher announces that his Graduating Class's Senior Trip is going to be to Stark Industries, the place where Peter has an internship, and where he spends so much of his free time, he is... less than enthused. No one believes his Internship is real and frankly, he just doesn't want to d
Hot Chocolate
by Isnt_it_pretty_to_think_so
“So,” Natasha says smoothly, raising an eyebrow. “You’re Spiderman.”The kid is practically hyperventilating, staring at her with those damn eyes. “You . . . you . . .”“Relax,” she says, heading over to her secret stash of cocoa. “If I wanted to kill you, you’d be dead. Do you want some hot chocolate
I Think I Missed a Step ('Cause I'm Fallin' For You)
by mokuyoubi
There’s a weird familiarity about the kid's tone and posture, and it’s true that Wade is pretty far from home today but he’s also certain he’d remember that baby-face if he’d seen it before. On the other hand, he has spent the better part of the past few years feeling like he’s missed a step, so thi
This, You Protect
by owlet
The mission resets abruptly, from objective: kill to objective: protect
Best MCU Ships to Read
The most popular MCU pairings on AO3, each with thousands of dedicated stories.
Stucky
James 'Bucky' Barnes/Steve Rogers
The 'I'm with you till the end of the line' devotion and their tragic history makes for emotionally rich stories.
75,000 works →
Stony
Steve Rogers/Tony Stark
The clash between old-fashioned values and modern genius, plus their complex relationship dynamic, offers endless story possibilities.
85,000 works →
IronStrange
Stephen Strange/Tony Stark
Their shared genius, sarcastic banter, and the magic/science dynamic creates a compelling intellectual and romantic partnership.
25,000 works →
Thorki
Loki/Thor
The forbidden nature, complex family dynamics, and Loki's redemption potential creates intensely emotional and dramatic stories.
55,000 works →
Spideypool
Peter Parker/Wade Wilson
The innocent hero and chaotic antihero dynamic, plus Wade's protective instincts toward Peter, makes for entertaining and heartfelt stories.
35,000 works →
Popular Tropes in MCU Fanfiction
These are the storytelling patterns that MCU writers and readers love most.
Hurt/Comfort
One character is hurt (physically or emotionally) and another provides comfort and care.
920,000 works sitewide →
Fix-It
Stories that 'fix' canon events that fans found unsatisfying, usually character deaths or relationship outcomes.
480,000 works sitewide →
Alternate Universe (AU)
Stories set in a different universe or setting than canon, from coffee shops to space operas.
1,100,000 works sitewide →
Angst
Stories focused on emotional pain, drama, and intense feelings.
980,000 works sitewide →
Found Family
Characters forming family bonds with people they're not related to by blood.
280,000 works sitewide →
How to Get Started with MCU Fanfiction
Navigation tip
MCU fic is best navigated by character or ship tag, since the fandom covers dozens of films. Filter by your favorite character first.
Your first read
If you love Spider-Man, "The Third Option" is a gripping foster-care AU. For Avengers ensemble stories, sort by kudos and look for post-Endgame fix-its.
Reading on mobile
For the best experience reading MCU fics on your phone, download Fanfict Reader. It offers offline reading, custom themes, and a clean interface built specifically for AO3.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best MCU fanfic?
Popular picks for best MCU fanfic include "Dark Matter" (a post-Infinity War Peter Parker epic) and "The Third Option" (a gripping Spider-Man foster-care AU). The fandom's best works tend to be character studies that fill emotional gaps left by the films.
What are the most popular MCU ships?
The most popular MCU ships are Stucky (Steve/Bucky), Stony (Steve/Tony), IronStrange (Tony/Stephen), Thorki (Thor/Loki), and Spideypool (Spider-Man/Deadpool). Stucky dominated the fandom for years following The Winter Soldier.
How many MCU fanfics are on AO3?
There are over 380,000 MCU fanfiction works on Archive of Our Own, making it one of the platform's largest fandoms.
Where can I read MCU fanfiction?
The best place to read MCU fanfiction is Archive of Our Own (AO3). For the best mobile reading experience, download Fanfict Reader for offline reading, custom themes, and seamless browsing.
Read MCU on the go
Fanfict Reader is the best way to browse, search, and read AO3 fanfiction on your iPhone. Download for free and start reading your favorite MCU fics today.